TrickyWorld

Make Chat Rooms On The Fly - (AJAX + Web 2.0)
from digg
This site houses easy to use light weight AJAX chat rooms that can be created instantly by simply typing in a room name. This is the web 2.0 of chat rooms. Great service for those who need quick communication between someone who doesn’t have a messaging client. I created a room for this digg article http://www.chatmaker.net/chatap/rooms/digg/

How Safe Are Wireless Networks?Dalhousie University (07/04/07) Morrison, Dawn
Wireless security is the focus of research that is being pursued by a team at Dalhousie University. Over the next five years, Dr. Srini Sampalli and graduate students from Dalhousie’s Faculty of Computer Science will receive $32,000 annually from the National Sciences and Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to study security and resource management in heterogeneous wireless networks. The project will complement another collaborative initiative that seeks to improve the security of wireless networks, which is sponsored by Industry Canada. The researchers hope to learn what makes wireless networks susceptible to exploitation, the different ways the networks can be attacked, and the strengths of applying common security measures. Sampalli also wants to establish guidelines for security best practices for detecting and preventing intrusions. They will study vulnerabilities and prototypes for detecting and preventing intrusions using a test bed. The use of wireless data devices continues to grow, and deployment of the devices could reach 226 million next year. “Unfortunately, the tremendous rapid growth has brought with it a large number of security issues and has exposed numerous vulnerabilities in wireless networks,” says Sampalli.Click Here to View Full Article

Is Securing Your Network Worth the Money?
\u003cbr\>\n Network World (07/03/07) Brown, Bob\n\u003c/b\>\n \u003cp\>\n Security researchers discussed IT security at a conference hosted by\nCarnegie Mellon. Two Dartmouth College Center for Digital Strategies\nresearchers studied the involuntary disclosure of data through peer-to-peer\nsharing networks at a group of major financial institutions, and determined\nthat lazy or badly organized end users are often responsible for the\nleakage of sensitive information, while P2P networks are aggressively\nsearched by criminals seeking data to exploit. The researchers recommended\nthe introduction of “file naming conventions and policies to reduce the\nmetadata footprint of their documents.” Researchers from Tel Aviv\nUniversity and the Michigan State University Department of Economics\npresented a paper detailing the interdependent relationship between\nsoftware vendors’ “profit-maximizing behavior” and vulnerability disclosure\npolicy, while USC researchers discussed a technique for quantifying\nsecurity threats so that organizations can ascertain how much they must\nbudget for commercially available security products to fulfill their\nsecurity requirements. UC Berkeley, University of Michigan, and HEC\nMontreal researchers presented a paper focusing on the advantages to\nvendors of strengthening their software’s security and reliability, noting\nthat usually users fail to perceive any difference between a failure’s\noccurrence due to a security or reliability problem and typically consider\nsoftware bugs to be the source of both kinds of failures. A\nmulti-divisional enterprise’s implementation of security countermeasures in\nthe context of variegated information systems controlled by its divisions\nand in response to various types of damage that the enterprise’s\ninformation systems and assets can suffer from threats was an issue probed\nby three Carnegie Mellon researchers. They reached the conclusion that\n”there are strategic issues in information security decision making and\nthat the distortion due to incomplete knowledge of information systems by\nthe CIO has to be weighed against incentive problems when division managers\nmake decisions.”",1]
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Network World (07/03/07) Brown, Bob
Security researchers discussed IT security at a conference hosted by Carnegie Mellon. Two Dartmouth College Center for Digital Strategies researchers studied the involuntary disclosure of data through peer-to-peer sharing networks at a group of major financial institutions, and determined that lazy or badly organized end users are often responsible for the leakage of sensitive information, while P2P networks are aggressively searched by criminals seeking data to exploit. The researchers recommended the introduction of “file naming conventions and policies to reduce the metadata footprint of their documents.” Researchers from Tel Aviv University and the Michigan State University Department of Economics presented a paper detailing the interdependent relationship between software vendors’ “profit-maximizing behavior” and vulnerability disclosure policy, while USC researchers discussed a technique for quantifying security threats so that organizations can ascertain how much they must budget for commercially available security products to fulfill their security requirements. UC Berkeley, University of Michigan, and HEC Montreal researchers presented a paper focusing on the advantages to vendors of strengthening their software’s security and reliability, noting that usually users fail to perceive any difference between a failure’s occurrence due to a security or reliability problem and typically consider software bugs to be the source of both kinds of failures. A multi-divisional enterprise’s implementation of security countermeasures in the context of variegated information systems controlled by its divisions and in response to various types of damage that the enterprise’s information systems and assets can suffer from threats was an issue probed by three Carnegie Mellon researchers. They reached the conclusion that “there are strategic issues in information security decision making and that the distortion due to incomplete knowledge of information systems by the CIO has to be weighed against incentive problems when division managers make decisions.”
\n\u003ca href\u003d\”http://www.networkworld.com/news/2007/070307-security-threats-carnegie-mell%0Aon.html\” target\u003d\”_blank\” onclick\u003d\”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\”\>Click Here to View Full Article\u003c/a\>\n\n \u003cbr\>\u003cfont size\u003d\”1\”\>\u003ca href\u003d\”#1139d8e69bba2c2e_top_of_page\”\>to the top\u003c/a\>\u003c/font\>\n \u003c/p\>\n \u003cp\>\u003chr\>\u003cp\>\n\n\u003cb\>\n\n \u003ca name\u003d\”1139d8e69bba2c2e_318648\”\>Drivers Unwanted: MIT ‘Robocar’ Passes Key Test\nDrive\u003c/a\>\u003cbr\>\n MIT News (06/28/07) Mansur, Karla\n\u003c/b\>\n \u003cp\>\n Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s autonomous robotic car passed a\nsite visit by personnel from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency\n(DARPA). MIT is one of 11 “Track A,” or funded, teams that will be\ncompeting at the DARPA Urban Challenge. The objective of the challenge is\nto create a driverless vehicle that can execute simulated military supply\nmissions in an urban environment, while completing tasks such as merging,\npassing other vehicles, navigating safely through intersections and traffic\ncircles, and adhering to speed limits and other traffic laws. Vehicles\nmust complete the course within a six-hour time limit. MIT is the only\nTrack A team that has not previously competed in a DARPA challenge, but\nteam leader and MIT associate professor of mechanical and ocean engineering\nJohn Leonard believes that his team may have an advantage because they\nstarted from scratch. “We have a fresh perspective and novel ways of\nthinking that could set us apart, and lead us to new ways of attacking the\nproblem,” Leonard says. “They have made amazing advances in such a short\ntime. I would be surprised if other teams have individually discovered all\nthe things we have come up with on our own, in the half year or so that we\nhave been focusing on this effort.” The MIT car uses multiple laser-range\nscanners, high-rate video cameras, and automotive radar units. The sensors\ncollect data to create a “local map” of the vehicle’s immediate\nsurroundings, including elements such as lane markings, stop lines,\npotholes, and other vehicles. A cluster of up to 40 central processing\nunits processes the sensor data and performs autonomous planning and motion\ncontrol.”,1]
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Drivers Unwanted: MIT ‘Robocar’ Passes Key Test DriveMIT News (06/28/07) Mansur, Karla
Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s autonomous robotic car passed a site visit by personnel from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). MIT is one of 11 “Track A,” or funded, teams that will be competing at the DARPA Urban Challenge. The objective of the challenge is to create a driverless vehicle that can execute simulated military supply missions in an urban environment, while completing tasks such as merging, passing other vehicles, navigating safely through intersections and traffic circles, and adhering to speed limits and other traffic laws. Vehicles must complete the course within a six-hour time limit. MIT is the only Track A team that has not previously competed in a DARPA challenge, but team leader and MIT associate professor of mechanical and ocean engineering John Leonard believes that his team may have an advantage because they started from scratch. “We have a fresh perspective and novel ways of thinking that could set us apart, and lead us to new ways of attacking the problem,” Leonard says. “They have made amazing advances in such a short time. I would be surprised if other teams have individually discovered all the things we have come up with on our own, in the half year or so that we have been focusing on this effort.” The MIT car uses multiple laser-range scanners, high-rate video cameras, and automotive radar units. The sensors collect data to create a “local map” of the vehicle’s immediate surroundings, including elements such as lane markings, stop lines, potholes, and other vehicles. A cluster of up to 40 central processing units processes the sensor data and performs autonomous planning and motion control.
\n\u003ca href\u003d\”http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2007/robocar-0628.html\” target\u003d\”_blank\” onclick\u003d\”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\”\>Click Here to View Full Article\u003c/a\>\n\n \u003cbr\>\u003cfont size\u003d\”1\”\>\u003ca href\u003d\”#1139d8e69bba2c2e_top_of_page\”\>to the top\u003c/a\>\u003c/font\>\n \u003c/p\>\n \u003cp\>\u003chr\>\u003cp\>\n\n\u003cb\>\n\n \u003ca name\u003d\”1139d8e69bba2c2e_318664\”\>Tangible Display Makes 3D Images Touchable\u003c/a\>\u003cbr\>\n New Scientist (06/29/07) Knight, Will\n\u003c/b\>\n \u003cp\>\n Japan’s NTT has developed a system that allows users to “touch” 3D images\nusing a 3D display and a haptic glove. The display creates life-like\nimages that appear just in front of a flat screen, while inside the glove\nthe user is touched by numerous force-feedback components to create the\nsensation of touching something solid. The illusion of depth is created by\ndisplaying slightly different images to each eye, eliminating the need for\nspecial glasses. The system can also create virtual representations of\nreal-world objects. Two cameras create 3D images of items so the items can\nbe displayed on the screen. A computer then processes the 3D image to\ngenerate a tactile representation of the object in the haptic glove. The\nsystem could be used to enable businesspeople to shake hands, relatives\ncould hold each other from across the country, or museum visitors could\nexperience holding and touching precious exhibits and items that are too\nvaluable to let visitors really touch.\u003cbr\>\n\u003ca href\u003d\”http://www.newscientisttech.com/article/dn12169-tangible-display-makes-3d-i%0Amages-touchable.html\” target\u003d\”_blank\” onclick\u003d\”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\”\>Click Here to View Full Article\u003c/a\>\n\n \u003cbr\>\u003cfont size\u003d\”1\”\>\u003ca href\u003d\”#1139d8e69bba2c2e_top_of_page\”\>to the top\u003c/a\>\u003c/font\>\n \u003c/p\>\n \u003cp\>\u003chr\>\u003cp\>\n\n\u003cb\>\n\n \u003ca name\u003d\”1139d8e69bba2c2e_318577\”\>ICANN Faces Major Transition With Cerf’s Departure\u003c/a\>\u003cbr\>\n IDG News Service (06/29/07) Perez, Juan Carlos\n\u003c/b\>\n \u003cp\>\n ICANN will face one of the greatest challenges in its history when\nChairman Vint Cerf’s term expires in October. Cerf has been chairman of\nICANN since 2000, and much of the group’s success in meeting its chief\nmandates can be attributed to him. Observers acknowledge that Cerf has his\nflaws, but overall they say he has done a great job in leading the nascent\nICANN through a series of early challenges. Cerf’s success can be\nattributed to his leadership, political skills, and consensus-approach,\nobservers say. One detractor, Syracuse University professor Milton\nMueller, criticizes Cerf for taking “a very conservative and limiting\napproach to ICANN policies” and not advocating enough for the\ninternationalization of ICANN. Internet Mark 2 Project founder Ian Peter\nfinds fault with Cerf’s corporate management skills, claiming that Cerf\nallowed bureaucracy to flourish within ICANN. The general manager of\nMexico’s Internet NIC, Oscar Robles-Garay, even finds fault with Cerf’s\nchief attribute, strong leadership. “His strong leadership is his best\nquality, but it has also backfired on him, as some board members have at\ntimes felt strongly influenced to vote the same way as Vint, even when he\nwas wrong,” Robles-Garay says. Observers say the next ICANN chairman will\nneed to have several skills: Exceptional technical knowledge of Internet\narchitecture issues; a willingness to listen to diverse ideas; and the\nability to build consensus.”,1]
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Tangible Display Makes 3D Images TouchableNew Scientist (06/29/07) Knight, Will
Japan’s NTT has developed a system that allows users to “touch” 3D images using a 3D display and a haptic glove. The display creates life-like images that appear just in front of a flat screen, while inside the glove the user is touched by numerous force-feedback components to create the sensation of touching something solid. The illusion of depth is created by displaying slightly different images to each eye, eliminating the need for special glasses. The system can also create virtual representations of real-world objects. Two cameras create 3D images of items so the items can be displayed on the screen. A computer then processes the 3D image to generate a tactile representation of the object in the haptic glove. The system could be used to enable businesspeople to shake hands, relatives could hold each other from across the country, or museum visitors could experience holding and touching precious exhibits and items that are too valuable to let visitors really touch.Click Here to View Full Article

ICANN Faces Major Transition With Cerf’s DepartureIDG News Service (06/29/07) Perez, Juan Carlos
ICANN will face one of the greatest challenges in its history when Chairman Vint Cerf’s term expires in October. Cerf has been chairman of ICANN since 2000, and much of the group’s success in meeting its chief mandates can be attributed to him. Observers acknowledge that Cerf has his flaws, but overall they say he has done a great job in leading the nascent ICANN through a series of early challenges. Cerf’s success can be attributed to his leadership, political skills, and consensus-approach, observers say. One detractor, Syracuse University professor Milton Mueller, criticizes Cerf for taking “a very conservative and limiting approach to ICANN policies” and not advocating enough for the internationalization of ICANN. Internet Mark 2 Project founder Ian Peter finds fault with Cerf’s corporate management skills, claiming that Cerf allowed bureaucracy to flourish within ICANN. The general manager of Mexico’s Internet NIC, Oscar Robles-Garay, even finds fault with Cerf’s chief attribute, strong leadership. “His strong leadership is his best quality, but it has also backfired on him, as some board members have at times felt strongly influenced to vote the same way as Vint, even when he was wrong,” Robles-Garay says. Observers say the next ICANN chairman will need to have several skills: Exceptional technical knowledge of Internet architecture issues; a willingness to listen to diverse ideas; and the ability to build consensus.
\n\u003ca href\u003d\”http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command\u003dviewArticleBasic&art%0AicleId\u003d9025979&intsrc\u003dnews_ts_head\” target\u003d\”_blank\” onclick\u003d\”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\”\>Click Here to View Full Article\u003c/a\>\n\n \u003cbr\>\u003cfont size\u003d\”1\”\>\u003ca href\u003d\”#1139d8e69bba2c2e_top_of_page\”\>to the top\u003c/a\>\u003c/font\>\n \u003c/p\>\n \u003cp\>\u003chr\>\u003cp\>\n\n\u003cb\>\n\n \u003ca name\u003d\”1139d8e69bba2c2e_318542\”\>The Reinvention of Software\u003c/a\>\u003cbr\>\n Optimize (06/07)No. 68, P. 48; Chou, Timothy\n\u003c/b\>\n \u003cp\>\n The consumer Internet is an excellent resource for determining the next\nwave of business software, because that is where next-generation business\napplications are coming from, writes author and former Oracle On Demand\nPresident Timothy Chou. The ease of use of Google is key to its adoption,\nand this example provides an object lesson on the tremendous value of\nsimplification. Chou says this trend implies that “we should view the\nfuture not as horizontal, fully integrated suites of business software, but\nas hundreds, if not thousands, of services unique to a particular user or\nindustry.” These immense software engines are being driven by massive\nvolumes of information, and this is fueling a desire among organizations to\nmake the construction of data warehouses unnecessary through the use of a\nGoogle-like crawler to retrieve desired data. Also of significance is the\nglobal economy’s rapid transition from agriculture and manufacturing to\nservices, and Chou notes that the majority of service requests are for\nknown information, particularly in the software industry. He cites Amazon\nfor defragmenting information and people and personalizing the service\nexperience. Globe-spanning teamwork and cooperation–a concept that\nenterprises greatly value–is a core component of massively multiplayer\nonline role-playing games such as World of Warcraft, while games such as\nSecond Life are popular enough to encourage real-world businesses such as\nToyota and IBM to participate.\u003cbr\>\n\u003ca href\u003d\”http://www.optimizemag.com/disciplines/strategic-innovation/showArticle.jht%0Aml?articleID\u003d199500267\” target\u003d\”_blank\” onclick\u003d\”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\”\>”,1]
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The Reinvention of SoftwareOptimize (06/07)No. 68, P. 48; Chou, Timothy
The consumer Internet is an excellent resource for determining the next wave of business software, because that is where next-generation business applications are coming from, writes author and former Oracle On Demand President Timothy Chou. The ease of use of Google is key to its adoption, and this example provides an object lesson on the tremendous value of simplification. Chou says this trend implies that “we should view the future not as horizontal, fully integrated suites of business software, but as hundreds, if not thousands, of services unique to a particular user or industry.” These immense software engines are being driven by massive volumes of information, and this is fueling a desire among organizations to make the construction of data warehouses unnecessary through the use of a Google-like crawler to retrieve desired data. Also of significance is the global economy’s rapid transition from agriculture and manufacturing to services, and Chou notes that the majority of service requests are for known information, particularly in the software industry. He cites Amazon for defragmenting information and people and personalizing the service experience. Globe-spanning teamwork and cooperation–a concept that enterprises greatly value–is a core component of massively multiplayer online role-playing games such as World of Warcraft, while games such as Second Life are popular enough to encourage real-world businesses such as Toyota and IBM to participate.
\n\n \u003cbr\>\u003cfont size\u003d\”1\”\>\u003ca href\u003d\”#1139d8e69bba2c2e_top_of_page\”\>to the top\u003c/a\>\u003c/font\>\n \u003c/p\>\n \u003cp\>\u003chr\>\u003cp\>\n\n\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/span\>\n\n\n\n\u003cp\>\nTo submit feedback about ACM TechNews, contact:\n\u003ca href\u003d\”mailto:technews@hq.acm.org?subject\u003dFeedback+about%0ATechnews\” target\u003d\”_blank\” onclick\u003d\”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\”\>technews@hq.acm.org\u003c/a\>\n\u003c/p\>\n\u003ca name\u003d\”1139d8e69bba2c2e_unsubscribe\”\>\u003cp\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/a\>\nTo unsubscribe from the ACM TechNews Early Alert Service:\nPlease send a separate email to \u003ca href\u003d\”mailto:listserv@listserv.acm.org?subject\u003dsignoff%0Atechnews&body\u003dsignoff+technews\” target\u003d\”_blank\” onclick\u003d\”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\”\>listserv@listserv.acm.org\u003c/a\>\nwith the line\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\nsignoff technews\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\nin the body of your message.\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\nPlease note that replying directly to this message does not\nautomatically unsubscribe you from the TechNews list.\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\nACM may have a different email address on file for you,\nso if you’re unable to “unsubscribe” yourself, please direct\nyour request to: \u003ca href\u003d\”mailto:technews-request@acm.org?subject\u003dUnsubscribe\” target\u003d\”_blank\” onclick\u003d\”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\”\>technews-request@\nacm.org\u003c/a\>\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\nWe will remove your name from the TechNews list on\nyour behalf.\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\nFor help with technical problems, including problems with\nleaving the list, please write to:\n\u003ca href\u003d\”mailto:technews-request@acm.org?subject\u003dTechnical%0AAssistance\” target\u003d\”_blank\” onclick\u003d\”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\”\>technews-request@acm.org\u003c/a\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\n\u003cfont size\u003d\”1\”\>\u003ca href\u003d\”#1139d8e69bba2c2e_top_of_page_of_page\”\>to the top\u003c/a\>\u003c/font\>\n\u003c/p\>\n\n\n\n \u003cp\>\n\n News Abstracts © 2007 \u003ca href\u003d\”http://www.infoinc.com/copyright.html\” target\u003d\”_blank\” onclick\u003d\”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\”\>Information, Inc.\u003c/a\>\n \u003c/p\>\n\n \u003c/td\>\n \u003c/tr\>\n \u003c/tbody\>\u003c/table\>\n\n \u003c/td\>\n \u003c/tr\>\n “,1]
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Future Avatars Will Be Adept at Manipulating Human ResponseArs Technica (07/05/07) Timmer, John
Avatars cannot mimic human behavior, yet; but some programmers could help these computerized representations do just that as demand for realistic human behaviors increases among users. Judith Donath of MIT’s Media Lab notes that programmers easily can incorporate the complex body language and expressions humans use into a single command for avatars to express a given behavior, such as showing interest in starting a conversation with a stranger. However, these single commands could raise serious ethical concerns, particularly in virtual conversations, because avatars could express honesty, while their users are being dishonest. Research indicates other jarring possibilities, including the use of avatars with similar faces to consumers to advertise brands, products, or political causes to garner greater attention for online users. Although Donath worries about “a world in which you are bombarded with oddly compelling ad campaigns presented by people just like you,” she also foresees the use less complex avatars to interact with others in the virtual world to avoid the potential for manipulation.
\n\u003ca href\u003d\”http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070705-manufacturing-real-trust-in-v%0Airtual-worlds.html\” target\u003d\”_blank\” onclick\u003d\”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\”\>Click Here to View Full Article\u003c/a\>\n\n \u003cbr\>\u003cfont size\u003d\”1\”\>\u003ca href\u003d\”#1139d8e69bba2c2e_top_of_page\”\>to the top\u003c/a\>\u003c/font\>\n \u003c/p\>\n \u003cp\>\u003chr\>\u003cp\>\n\n\u003cb\>\n\n \u003ca name\u003d\”1139d8e69bba2c2e_318876\”\>How Safe Are Wireless Networks?\u003c/a\>\u003cbr\>\n Dalhousie University (07/04/07) Morrison, Dawn\n\u003c/b\>\n \u003cp\>\n Wireless security is the focus of research that is being pursued by a team\nat Dalhousie University. Over the next five years, Dr. Srini Sampalli and\ngraduate students from Dalhousie’s Faculty of Computer Science will receive\n$32,000 annually from the National Sciences and Research Council of Canada\n(NSERC) to study security and resource management in heterogeneous wireless\nnetworks. The project will complement another collaborative initiative\nthat seeks to improve the security of wireless networks, which is sponsored\nby Industry Canada. The researchers hope to learn what makes wireless\nnetworks susceptible to exploitation, the different ways the networks can\nbe attacked, and the strengths of applying common security measures.\nSampalli also wants to establish guidelines for security best practices for\ndetecting and preventing intrusions. They will study vulnerabilities and\nprototypes for detecting and preventing intrusions using a test bed. The\nuse of wireless data devices continues to grow, and deployment of the\ndevices could reach 226 million next year. “Unfortunately, the tremendous\nrapid growth has brought with it a large number of security issues and has\nexposed numerous vulnerabilities in wireless networks,” says Sampalli.\u003cbr\>\n\u003ca href\u003d\”http://dalnews.dal.ca/2007/07/04/wireless.html\” target\u003d\”_blank\” onclick\u003d\”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\”\>Click Here to View Full Article\u003c/a\>\n\n \u003cbr\>\u003cfont size\u003d\”1\”\>\u003ca href\u003d\”#1139d8e69bba2c2e_top_of_page\”\>to the top\u003c/a\>\u003c/font\>\n \u003c/p\>\n \u003cp\>\u003chr\>\u003cp\>\n\n\u003cb\>\n\n \u003ca name\u003d\”1139d8e69bba2c2e_319114\”\>Is Securing Your Network Worth the Money?”,1]
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Wooing Interns to Silicon ValleyCNet (07/03/07) Olsen, Stephanie
Hundreds of college students are interning at Google this summer, and will enjoy such perks as free clothes, complementary food, and the freedom to immerse themselves into Google’s code. Google and other companies hope such perks will help them attract individuals from a shrinking pool of skilled candidates. “There’s a lot of demand for top CS undergrads and grads, both from startups and big companies, because there’s growing recognition of the limited supply of the really talented students,” says Stephen Hsu, a professor at the University of Oregon. At Microsoft, students also get ample perks, such as flying students in for interviews and offering subsidized housing or a housing stipend. The Computer Research Association (CRA) estimates that overall enrollment in
\n\u003ca href\u003d\”http://news.com.com/Interns+wooed+to+Silicon+Valley/2100-1014_3-6194777.htm%0Al\” target\u003d\”_blank\” onclick\u003d\”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\”\>Click Here to View Full Article\u003c/a\>\n\n \u003cbr\>\u003cfont size\u003d\”1\”\>\u003ca href\u003d\”#1139d8e69bba2c2e_top_of_page\”\>to the top\u003c/a\>\u003c/font\>\n \u003c/p\>\n \u003cp\>\u003chr\>\u003cp\>\n\n\u003cb\>\n\n \u003ca name\u003d\”1139d8e69bba2c2e_319083\”\>Future Avatars Will Be Adept at Manipulating Human\nResponse\u003c/a\>\u003cbr\>\n Ars Technica (07/05/07) Timmer, John\n\u003c/b\>\n \u003cp\>\n Avatars cannot mimic human behavior, yet; but some programmers could help\nthese computerized representations do just that as demand for realistic\nhuman behaviors increases among users. Judith Donath of MIT’s Media Lab\nnotes that programmers easily can incorporate the complex body language and\nexpressions humans use into a single command for avatars to express a given\nbehavior, such as showing interest in starting a conversation with a\nstranger. However, these single commands could raise serious ethical\nconcerns, particularly in virtual conversations, because avatars could\nexpress honesty, while their users are being dishonest. Research indicates\nother jarring possibilities, including the use of avatars with similar\nfaces to consumers to advertise brands, products, or political causes to\ngarner greater attention for online users. Although Donath worries about\n”a world in which you are bombarded with oddly compelling ad campaigns\npresented by people just like you,” she also foresees the use less complex\navatars to interact with others in the virtual world to avoid the potential\nfor manipulation.”,1]
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U.S. bachelor’s programs in computer science (CS) fell 14 percent from 2005 to 2006, and more than 40 percent since 2002. On a positive note, however, there has been a 10 percent increase in pre-major enrollment in CS. In addition, the number of students graduating with a doctorate in CS was up by more than 25 percent in June 2006, according to the CRA, and nearly 50 percent of doctoral students went to work in industry instead of academia from 2005 to 2005.Click Here to View Full Article

Where Has All the Talent Gone?Electronic Design (06/29/07) Schneiderman, Ron
There are thousands of listings for electrical engineering and other technical positions on popular online job sites, but companies are having a difficult time filling them. Dice is listing nearly 6,000 EE positions, with opportunities ranging from government agencies to toy manufacturers, and IEEE says postings are up about 4 percent in the first quarter, with software programming, design engineering, and research being the most frequent openings. Filling 3,000 technical jobs in the United States has not been easy for Microsoft, Bill Gates told the U.S. Senate committees on labor and education in March. If the U.S. economy is to continue to thrive off of innovation, then the country needs to improve the way math, science, and engineering are taught, he added. “Companies of all sizes continue to have problems recruiting highly qualified and educated individuals to work for them, whether those individuals are foreign or domestic,” says AeA President William T. Archey. “This was reflected in the 2.5 percent unemployment rate for computer scientists and the below 2 percent unemployment rate for engineers in 2006.” The problem could become even worse in the near future as baby boomers with technical talent leave the workforce, thinning the ranks of skilled IT workers.Click Here to View Full Article